Few players have combined grace, popularity and accomplishment like Willie Mays. He was a great fielder, a tremendous power hitter, an outstanding thrower, a canny base runner, a huge drawing card and durable champion. Not to mention that Willie Mays spent most of 1952 and all of 1953 in the United States Army, costing him a chance to break Babe Ruth's home run record. What branch of service did Cassius Clay serve in? By leaving Willie Mays off of this list, you once again show your ignorance of the game of baseball and your ignorance of the integration of baseball. Do some research on how baseball passed on some great players to hand pick somebody that went to UCLA and starred in 4 sports. Jackie Robinson probably deserves to be on the list, but so does Willie Mays. Both served their country in the military. Cassius Clay does not deserve to be on the list.

Jackie Robinson wasn't the best black player of his day, much less all time. He was a known good guy that wouldn't make headlines for being an a-hole and while he was among the better players of his day was not the best. Josh Gibson just for starters, the "Black Babe Ruth" would have something to say about the best black baseball players. Smokey Joe Williams shut out Walter Johnson twice and I'd be willing to bet you haven't even heard of him. another bogus list

So you disrespect MLK by rerunning a column and not even telling us? Plus, how did Jesse Owens get better than Say Hey Willie in the ensuing 2 years? Did he run in some meet that I didn't hear about? Bob Hayes? No Way.

Where the hell is the Tyler Rose at? He was twice as good as Boknows at football, and he didn't play baseball because as a kid..everytime he batted, the ball was smashed two counties over and they ran out of balls...then he had to tend to his Momma's roses. RW's lists=Fan's radio content (i.e. not very good pal)

so military service=more deserving to be on greatest athlete list? Cassius Clay AKA Muhammad Ali is a defining athlete of his generation and synonymous of the greatest his sport ever saw and is deserving to be on this list whether you disagree with his anti-war stance or not.